Missing Kidneys

dancingsphinx22

I tried searching for this but didn't find much. So I f this issue has already been discussed in depth, please let me know. (Link me if possible, I would really appreciate it)

We went for a follow up A/S today because last time the tech said she couldn't get a good spine measurement. Wiggly baby and all that...

Today they said they're sending me to a specialist because they can't find the kidneys. Neither of them.

That's all they said.

At the time, I didn't know what that meant so I didn't know what questions to ask. Stupid, I know. Then I googled it. Stupid, I know.

I'm trying not to freak out and assume the worst. Has anyone had experience with missing kidneys in the anatomy scan?

Edited to add I'm 23wk5

rebelone

Oh no. Why would the doctor send you out without an explanation to ease your mind??? I'm so sorry this is happening to you and hope they don't make you wait much longer to get answers. You're in my thoughts and prayers.

dancingsphinx22

@rebelone thank you! That's what I'm wondering. She didn't tell me good or bad. She pretty much said "I'm referring you to a specialist because we can't see the kidneys. The nurse will give you their office information. Happy holidays!"

I wish I had DH in the room with me because he would've been quicker to ask questions.

At first, I just figured they couldn't see kidneys because baby was all curled up today. But when I got home it occurred to me that they couldn't see the kidneys last week either.

I'm switching to another obgyn (not just because of this, there's other reasons.) I'm trying not to worry too much until I get another opinion, but I really just want to crawl in bed and cry.

SarahFoley725

I didn't have this happen but I did have an issue at my AS and had to go see a high risk doctor. Apparently these specialists have much better machines that can pick up on things way better. My guess is your doctor didn't tell you much about it because until they can get a better luck they don't know either. I was equally as upset and frustrated by the lack of information that my doctor gave me, but until you can get in to see the specialist there's nothing that you can do but wait. *hugs*

lalala2004

I'm sorry you had this experience. I would think people in these jobs would be more sensitive!

It's unheard to get another scan because the typical u/s tech can't get the right images. I was sent to the high risk doctor for a few other things, but one was that they couldn't get good images of the heart. The u/s at the high risk doctor was able to get all of the images needed. It was definitely a case of them getting me worried over nothing! I hope that's what happens to you, too!

alanna3622

@dancingsphinx22 that is some extremely scary information. I don't blame you at all for feeling the way you are feeling. Hope you don't have to wait long to get some actual information and a crack at a better imaging machine. Creepy internet hugs to you.

groovylocks

I've not had any experience with this type of situation but I'm mostly replying to bump this up. And to offer you my best wishes. Hey, maybe your little one just lies funny most of the time and this could account for the two consecutive kidneyless ultrasounds. Or maybe some other technical anomaly that has nothing to do with her anatomy. I totally understand why you're terrified and hate to say it but it WILL be a waiting game for now. So try to relax for now. It's not time to worry yet. 

Cowboycorgi

T&Ps for you and little one. Potters syndrome runs in my family, and I have had several family members lose little ones after birth to not having kidneys. I understand the fear and frustration of not knowing.
I hope you get good news soon and come back to report 2 beautiful functioning kidneys!

groovylocks

Op one thing you CAN do in the meantime, if you want more information, is to ask them how your amniotic fluid looks. Missing kidneys in babies results in low/no amniotic fluid.

dancingsphinx22

Thank you so much for the support, ladies.

The office my doc referred me to is closed until Jan 4th because of the holidays. Awesome. 

Also, she didn't say anything about low fluid. I would think she would've mentioned it if it was an issue. She didn't seem worried at the time...But she's a new doctor for me, and maybe that's just how she is. 

DH keeps saying he thinks everything is ok with baby. Strangely, that helps me feel a little better. 

Sorry for for the rambling. 

soxfan9968

@dancingsphinx22 keep us updated. Positive thoughts and prayers for you and your LO.

gemini2005

I hope you get good news at your appointment.  Sending you T&P!

SarahFoley725

soxfan9968 said:

@dancingsphinx22 keep us updated. Positive thoughts and prayers for you and your LO.

Yes please keep us updated! I've been thinking about you. I hated the waiting and we only had to do it for a few days.

groovylocks

dancingsphinx22 said:

Thank you so much for the support, ladies.

The office my doc referred me to is closed until Jan 4th because of the holidays. Awesome. 

Also, she didn't say anything about low fluid. I would think she would've mentioned it if it was an issue. She didn't seem worried at the time...But she's a new doctor for me, and maybe that's just how she is. 

DH keeps saying he thinks everything is ok with baby. Strangely, that helps me feel a little better. 

Sorry for for the rambling. 

This is very good. The kidneys maintain fluid amount, from what I understand. Please keep us updated but from what I read, I love the sound of that.

ecwk

Thoughts and prayers to you. Hope you get wonderful results at your next appointment!! Creepy internet hugs xo

peregrinefalconx

Offering my Ts and Ps as well. I can't believe you have to keep waiting. That's now only 4 days away. I will say that the high risk docs are WAAAAY more versed in this stuff. If I had a dollar for every generalist that had misdiagnosed me for my bizarro health problems I have, I'd be rich, or at least have like 20 bucks. I love specialists. My spidey sense is telling me that everything is ok--they just don't have great equipment. GL!

AdorkablePixie

I hate how doctors sometimes say stuff and don't give us any further information. They have to know you're freaking out now! I hope you get some answers soon. I'm sending my thoughts and prayers your way. Please keep us updated!

oceanchild

Also here with thoughts and prayers

allurah2014

I'm sorry you're going through this. I went through a similar scare with DD and fully understand the fear and uncertainty.
Keep in mind that just because they can't see the kidneys doesn't mean they are missing. It has a lot to do with position of the baby, skill level of the tech, quality of the equipment they are using. Most routine OB offices use stage 1 US. High risk specialists use Stage 2 US routinely.

Well after my A/S I was told they couldn't see DDs stomach bubble. I freaked out and demanded explanation on what that could mean and all the possible scenarios. Honestly, it didn't do anything except make it worse. Of course Google came into play and I had all but accepted the fact that DD would have to be on feeding tubes and go to surgery. Mind you, the doctor never said any of this... But based on me wanting to know all the possible implications I created a horrible scenario in my head. I was already treating with a high risk doctor due to GS, so all I could do was wait.

At the next US the tech appeared confused when I mentioned the "missing stomach bubble". She said it was there, but appeared small. i had already picked a pediatrician and informed him that she may possibly have an issue due to the stomach bubble. He appeared confused and explained they either see it or don't. And if they've ever mentioned seeing it, it's there. Turns out he was correct. It just so happened that she had emptied her stomach of fluid before the scans, making it more difficult to visualize the bubble as it was an empty sac.

They immediatly checked her out when she was born and stuck a tube into her esophagus to make sure there was no obstruction leading to her stomach. All was fine. She's now 14 months old and in retrospect I feel so silly for creating my own narrative based on the information I received. It robbed me of enjoying the last couple months of my pregnancy. I'm now 21w with DS and have been much more relaxed about things.

Ultimately, more information is not always better, especially if it's purely speculation on the doctors part because you're pressing them for information. Also, many factors affect the ability to visualize a certain part on an US and it does not mean it's missing. Stay positive and stay away from Google. I hope you get some answers soon and that it's great news.

ChellyG1022

Hey we sort of have same story to share but with me just before the new year they told me that they need to schedule me for a repeat ultrasound for my baby kidney that their probably dilated I got worry and did research and I don't know what to think just trying to stay positive and they told me to go in Monday and see if it's correct or not. This waiting sucks but let's have faith and wait on the answer. Wishing u a healthy pregnancy
-Chelly

dancingsphinx22

Same to you, @ChellyG1022 !!

Again, thanks for the support, ladies! I Will update as soon as we have a definite answer.

At the very least, baby is very active and wiggly, and I'm still getting bigger, so I consider that a good thing.

dancingsphinx22

Update: BABY HAS BOTH KIDNEYS!

We had a specialist ultrasound today and he said both kidneys are present and functioning.

He doesn't even know why the obgyn told us to see him because the bladder and amniotic fluid are just fine. Without kidneys, there wouldn't be any fluid at all. So we were worried for nothing.

Anyway, better safe than sorry right?

The tech was very funny though. He said our baby was completely normal, average, and boring hahaha! He meant it jokingly of course

Thank you everyone for your care and concern

AdorkablePixie

That's great news!!

rebelone

Thank heavens!!! I'm so happy for you!

gemini2005

Glad everything is ok.  I'm sure the doctors were being overly cautious but the whole thing must have been terribly stressful!

dancingsphinx22

It was hard to get excited about baby things for the past couple of weeks, because there was always the sad thought of "what if" she doesn't have kidneys nagging at my brain. 

At one point, my worry was so bad that I had started wondering if we should return the baby things we already bought. Pregnancy brain is a crazy, scary thing 

Anyway, I'm more excited, and am eagerly looking forward to baby's arrival

0SeaMonkey0

I am so glad this turned out well for you!  The whole thing seemed a bit weird to me but I didn't want to chime in because I didn't have anything good to say.  I have a friend who this did happen to. She found out at her anatomy scan that her baby's kidneys were severely underdeveloped and not functioning at all, but with her it was immediately apparent because the baby had almost no amniotic fluid.  I guess amniotic fluid is basically baby pee??  Anyway, the result for her was not good, but the situation seemed quite different so I didn't want to say so right away.  Glad things worked out for you!

dancingsphinx22

@0SeaMonkey0 I am so sorry for your friend. I can't even imagine...

Yes, fluid is basically baby pee, so if they don't have kidneys, they can't make pee, and there won't be any fluid.

I nearly had a heart attack at the ultrasound because it look liked there wasn't any fluid!! It was the first thing I noticed, and I almost started crying, but the tech giggled and said not to worry. It looked that way only because baby had jammed herself into my left side (she does that often), and all the fluid ended up over on the right side. Whew.

I'd like to think only of the positive in this situation, but I can't help but wonder if this was a small scam from the OBGYN. I mean, 2 ultrasounds and they couldn't see kidneys, so they referred me to "their" specialist, which wasn't under our insurance network...I don't know how the medical business works, so I'm just speculating.

We actually transferred to a midwife and birth center since then (I love them already!), and went to one of their recommended specialists. They were covered under our insurance, and we only had to pay $50 for the ultrasound. We got some really cool photos, too.